A serious effort is now underway to improve Ohio's electric system. The state is slated for major transmission improvements over the next few years to improve reliability. A 13-mile upgrade to a high-voltage transmission line in Carroll and Columbiana counties in eastern Ohio has now been implemented. This is the first stage of a 64-mile (102 km) transmission improvement project by FirstEnergy.
FirstEnergy Corp. includes one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, runs around 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions, and owns a regulated generating fleet with a total capacity of over 3,500MW.
Around $39 million was invested to replace wooden poles with new steel structures along the 13-mile segment, including installation of larger wires so the lines can carry more current and accommodate greater customer electricity demand. The reconstructed section of 138-kilovolt transmission line will deliver power to the West Township area of Columbiana County and the August Township and Washington Township areas of Carroll County. Work is expected to begin soon on the next phase: a nine-mile segment located in Perry Township in Carroll County and Rumley Township and Archer Township in Harrison County.
“Rebuilding and fortifying this line with new infrastructure strengthens our transmission system and reflects our commitment to providing safe and reliable service to customers in Southeast Ohio," said Carl Bridenbaugh, FirstEnergy's vice president of Transmission.
The project is part of Energizing the Future, a multi-year initiative designed to upgrade FirstEnergy's transmission system with advanced equipment and technologies, as part of a major effort to improve Ohio's existing electric system. FirstEnergy, working with PJM Interconnection, identified nearly $900 million in needed transmission upgrades, including new transmission lines and substations, to help ensure continued smooth operation in the region.